Classic 'Crucible' themes relevant in the modern age

Harvey Jordan found it "kind of interesting." Actually, make that "amazing."

Tony Sauro

Harvey Jordan found it "kind of interesting." Actually, make that "amazing."

He was contemplating staging a production of "The Crucible," Arthur Miller's "modern American classic" that revisits the 17th century Salem (Mass.) witch trials and retains its demonic relevance in the 21st century.

A member of Jordan's family does ancestry and genealogy research.

"She traces our lineage directly back to Salem and the witch trials," said Jordan, born in San Jose of Irish/Scottish descent. "I said, 'What? Are you kidding?' I was amazed. I did find it very interesting. It makes you stop think and think."

That's what Miller's play, set in Salem, Mass., in 1692-93, has been doing since 1953.

"I always look for a show that has a certain gravitas," said Jordan, 58, a drama instructor who's directing his second San Joaquin Delta College production of "The Crucible" in 15 years. It opens tonight at the Tillie Lewis Theatre. "I'm looking for a weighted, impressive play."

"Truth. Just truthfulness," Harry Stoner, a Stockton teacher, said of Miller's immutable message. "It's being faithful to the truth, even if it costs you everything."

Fourteen women and six men paid with their lives four centuries ago. For supposedly practicing witchcraft.

Miller's drama emerged near the McCarthy Era's apex, when the Cold War's "red scare" often made truth a victim as Americans were demonized and ostracized for allegedly consorting with communists.

"Of course he was," Jordan said of Miller's bold creation during a time of paranoia and artistic blacklisting. "He insisted he was working on the play before all that. But he was heavily influenced by the communist witch hunts. There can be no doubt about that. He took lots of risks even producing the play."

Jordan has no predetermined motive, either. Other than a challenging exercise - and sobering history lesson - for his students.

"I'm not necessarily leaning in any kind of current political direction," said Jordan, who's directing 31 cast and crew members. "Given the universal nature of human behavior, there always have been attempts to demonize and unseat others by calling out and labeling them with some kind of human failing. It's kinda universal."

"It makes it contemporary," said Stoner, 54, who teaches English at St. Mary's High School and an online mythology course at Delta. "Any time you have a group of people led by allegation only, it's easy to sway. That has relevance to all different aspects on either side of the aisle on any controversial political issue."

Stoner hasn't attempted to exert undue influence while portraying Deputy Governor Danforth, an arbiter of "justice" in a nightmarish time - when fear and panic branded people as witches worthy only of execution.

"He's not foreign to me at all," said Stoner, a married father of five children, ages 9 to 23. "I'm not being authoritarian. I could be because of my age. And I'm a teacher. Like Danforth, I try to have a certain clarity with what's right and what's wrong. The clarity of it."

In an attempt at clarification, Jordan worked from a screenplay Miller (1915-2006) "edited, tightened down and streamlined" for a 1996 film version, reducing the running time to two hours and 20 minutes. Usually more unconventional, that's about all he's changed.

"We're doing it in that historical period in a traditional modern American theater approach," he said. "It's a big, muscular, machine kind of show visually."

In his previous Delta stage experience - "Macbeth" in 2010 - Stoner's machine stalled when the lead actor broke his leg on opening night.

At native of Missoula, Mont., who graduated from the University of Montana, Stoner arrived in Stockton in 1980, taking classes and acting at Delta and with Lodi's Tokay Players.

After a decade's break - he earned his master's degree, got married and started a family - he returned to theater.

He and Denise, his wife of 20 years, met when they were teaching at Stockton's Alan Short Center. Stoner had been asked to audition for a part in Stockton Civic Theatre's production of "On Golden Pond" (it opens Thursday), when Jordan called.

Because of his busy schedule and a conflict with his confirmation at Presentation Church, Stoner chose this historical morality tale.

"Danforth is just one of many catalysts that focus on (the doomed) Proctor," Stoner said. "... And move him toward an almost inevitable conclusion."

Stoner and Jordan agreed that student cast members are absorbing the harsh moral and spiritual aspects of early American colonial life and the McCarthy era.

"They see it and we've discussed it with them," Jordan said. "To show how the communist scare of the '50s motivated Miller. They see parallels to today's politics." Three students from Stockton - Matt Rust (John Proctor), Tiffany Horch (Abigail Williams) and Anna Westcott (Elizabeth Proctor) - play key roles.

"Harvey's students have a high level of maturity," Stoner said. "I'm really fortunate to work with them. It's just been a pleasure."

Jordan's ancestral ties to this agonizing episode of American history are part of a larger continuum.

"It's kinda funny how modern classics kind of cycle around in terms of relevance," Jordan said.

Contact Tony Sauro at (209) 546-8267 or tsauro@recordnet.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.